Nostromo - A Tale of the Seaboard.pdf - Planet eBook

of his military colleague. This gossip of the inland Campo,so characteristic of the rulers of the country with its storyof oppression, inefficiency, fatuous methods, treachery, andsavage brutality, was perfectly known to Mrs. Gould. Thatit should be accepted with no indignant comment by peopleof intelligence, refinement, and character as something inherentin the nature of things was one of the symptoms ofdegradation that had the power to exasperate her almost tothe verge of despair. Still looking at the ingot of silver, sheshook her head at Don Pepe’s remark—‘If it had not been for the lawless tyranny of your Government,Don Pepe, many an outlaw now with Hernandezwould be living peaceably and happy by the honest work ofhis hands.’‘Senora,’ cried Don Pepe, with enthusiasm, ‘it is true! Itis as if God had given you the power to look into the verybreasts of people. You have seen them working round you,Dona Emilia—meek as lambs, patient like their own burros,brave like lions. I have led them to the very muzzles ofguns—I, who stand here before you, senora—in the time ofPaez, who was full of generosity, and in courage only approachedby the uncle of Don Carlos here, as far as I know.No wonder there are bandits in the Campo when there arenone but thieves, swindlers, and sanguinary macaquesto rule us in Sta. Marta. However, all the same, a banditis a bandit, and we shall have a dozen good straight Winchestersto ride with the silver down to Sulaco.’Mrs. Gould’s ride with the first silver escort to Sulacowas the closing episode of what she called ‘my camp life’ be-